Ute R/C Association Come on, let's fly!

What is this?
The Ute R/C Association, founded in 1967, has offered free R/C flight instruction for much of its history. We currently conduct this free instruction each Wednesday from 5PM to sunset. If it's wet, windy, or very cold, you're generally better off waiting for the next week.

Where and when is it?
Location: The Jordan River Modelport (http://stateparks.utah.gov/stateparks/parks/jordan-river/)
Time: Every Wednesday night, April through October, from 5PM until it's too dark to fly, as long as the weather is good.

How much does it cost?
The flight instruction is free, but it costs $4 to park your vehicle at the modelport. The fine for not paying is more than the cost of a Utah State Parks Pass (currently $75 in 2009). So please remember to help support your Utah State Parks when you come for instruction.

What should I bring?
You don't need to bring anything with you. The Ute R/C Association provides fuel, planes, and radios for free flight instruction. If you wish to fly your own plane, bringing all or most of the following supplies will help you have the best experience possible. Be sure your transmitter and receiver batteries are charged.

• Your radio. Although we have plenty of Futaba radios, currently most of the instructors use JR-style radios; if you are considering purchasing equipment, JR or Spektrum brands are recommended for compatibility with the majority of club instructors.
• Your airplane and the printed manual you used to build it.
• If electric: any required batteries.
• If internal combustion: fuel (only club trainers use club fuel), glow plug starter, a pair of well-worn leather gloves (they may get dirty!), and an electric starter if you have one.
• A spare prop or two, of the same brand and dimensions as your aircraft's stock propeller.
• A wrench or appropriate device for removing your aircraft's propeller

What should I expect?
If you come without a plane, just show up and we'll explain how to use the radio, starting procedures, and take you on a few flights (if possible) to get you used to the controls and how to fly the plane. This is also an excellent way to learn if this would be a hobby you would enjoy or not. Some people don't think it's fun; many others fall in love the first time they take the controls. You'll never know unless you try!

If you bring your own plane, the first thing we'll want to do is give it a thorough pre-flight inspection. This includes:

• Checking control surface deflection (movement, direction, and checking for binding) and Center of Gravity to ensure they match recommended ranges specified in your manual.
• Tugging on control surfaces to ensure they will stay attached in flight.
• Examining radio layout to prevent interference and electronics disconnection in flight.
• Range-checking your radio and receiver (VERY IMPORTANT!)
• Tuning your engine or evaluating your power setup.
• Test flight!

Please be aware that we can make absolutely no guarantees regarding your aircraft on its test flight. Our trainers are experienced with successfully flying a range of model aircraft under a variety of challenging conditions, but there are a number of problems that can occur in flight which are out of our control. The most typical reasons for loss of a model aircraft in flight are mechanical failures due to builder error, and radio failure due to a variety of conditions. If you build according to the plans and ensure your radio gear is isolated from vibration, with a fully-charged battery when you arrive at the modelport, you provide your best chance of success.

Hope to see you there!

Regards,
Matthew P. Barnson
Ute R/C Association Intro Pilot